Ryusuke Taguchi

Born: 1979-04-15

Birthplace: Iwanuma, Miyagi, Japan

Biography

Ryusuke Taguchi is a Japanese professional wrestler who debuted in 2002 and has spent his entire career with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). After competing in several sports growing up, including amateur wrestling in college, he joined the NJPW Dojo and developed into one of the promotion's most accomplished junior heavyweights, becoming a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion, one-time CMLL World Welterweight Champion, and winner of the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors. He also won the J Sports Crown Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Tournament in 2010 and 2011, received the Tokyo Sports Best Bout Award for his 2010 tag team match with Prince Devitt against Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, and was ranked No. 102 in the 2015 PWI 500.

Taguchi is perhaps best known for reinventing himself as the eccentric "Funky Weapon," adopting a disco-inspired persona complete with colorful gear, comedy, and his signature post-match dance. Despite the lighthearted gimmick, he has remained a fixture of NJPW's junior heavyweight division for more than two decades, forming successful teams with wrestlers including Prince Devitt as Apollo 55, Ricochet as Funky Future, and Master Wato as Six or Nine, while also leading the fan-favorite Taguchi Japan stable.